Stress vs Anxiety: How Seniors in Shelbyville Can Cope
According to the American Psychiatric Association's annual mental health poll, 43% of adults say they feel more anxious than they did the previous year. When asked which lifestyle factors affect their mental health, adults often cite stress (53%) and sleep (40%).
Despite this rise in stress and anxiety, only one in four adults say they talked to a mental health care professional. Neglecting your senior mental health could affect your overall health and quality of life. Living in Walker Place Assisted Living in Shelbyville, a destination of choice for artists, entrepreneurs, and young professionals, may help.
What exactly is the difference between stress vs anxiety, though, and how can you start coping with stress? Read on to find out!
What Is Stress?
Stress is your body's reaction to challenges or major changes. These responses can be emotional, behavioral, or physical.
Your body is designed to react and adjust to stress by triggering your fight-or-flight response. Your autonomic nervous system may change your vision, breathing, and heart rate in response to a stressful situation. Common symptoms of stress include:
- Headaches
- Weakened immune systems
- High blood pressure
- Exhaustion or fatigue
- Trouble sleeping
- Chest pain
- Aches and pains
- Stomach or digestive issues
- Muscle tension
- Dizziness
- Panic attacks
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Depression
If you experience these symptoms, consult a doctor. They can help you start coping with stress.
Aging and Stress
According to the National Council on Aging, stress may affect older adults more. There's a link between stress and inflammation. The latter is associated with age-related conditions, including:
- Type 2 diabetes
- Cancer
- Dementia
- Arthritis
- Hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis)
As we age, we develop a higher resilience to stress. While a younger person may experience stress when paying off student loans or starting a family, older adults experience stress for different reasons. These reasons may include:
- Financial worries
- Loss and grief
- Chronic illness
- Major life changes
- Boredom
- Loneliness and social isolation
What Is Anxiety?
Anxiety is our natural response to perceived danger or stress. It can cause apprehension, unease, or worry. Anxiety is part of our fight-or-flight response.
According to the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, about 10 to 20% of older adults experience anxiety. It's the most common mental health problem for women and the second most common for men.
Common symptoms of anxiety include:
- Obsessive thoughts
- Nightmares
- Uncontrollable feelings of fear or panic
- Avoiding routine activities
- Insomnia
- Issues with focus or memory
- Restlessness
- Racing heart
- Cold or sweaty hands
- Shortness of breath
- Hot flashes
- Headaches
- Trembling
- Nausea
- Tense muscles
Unfortunately, older adults with anxiety disorders often don't get a diagnosis. They may not acknowledge or recognize their symptoms. Others don't seek treatment because they've normalized their anxiety.
These symptoms may affect your quality of life. Speak with a healthcare provider to determine if an underlying condition is causing your symptoms.
Aging and Anxiety
The most common anxiety disorder among older adults is Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). People with GAD are always in a state of alert, fear, and nervousness.
Risk factors for anxiety disorders in seniors include:
- Financial insecurity
- Stressful life events
- Side effects of medications
- Loss of independence
- Trauma from childhood
- Sleep disturbances
- Chronic health conditions
- Limited physical mobility
Stress vs Anxiety
What's the difference between stress vs anxiety? Both are emotional responses that can cause similar symptoms, including:
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irritability
- Muscle tension
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
- High heart rate
- Sweating
However, there is a thin line between them. While stress is a reaction to an external trigger, anxiety is a persistent worry. You can still experience excessive worry in the absence of a stressor.
Both stress and anxiety trigger the body's release of adrenaline. Adrenaline allows us to respond to a threat.
Chronic stress may develop into anxiety. Over time, stress can become overwhelming, triggering feelings of fear and worry. Left unmanaged, these feelings can affect your senior mental health and daily life.
Tips for Coping With Stress
Without treatment, stress and anxiety can boost cortisol and adrenaline levels. These hormones are part of the fight-or-flight response. Long-term exposure can increase your risk of heart attack and stroke.
To minimize your risk, try coping with stress using these effective relaxation techniques:
Adjust Your Diet
Avoid stress-eating foods that are high in sugar. Instead, follow a healthy, balanced diet featuring:
- Whole grains
- Fruits and vegetables
- Healthy fats
- Lean proteins
Eating a balanced diet can combat the effects of inflammation. It may help improve your energy levels, mood, and immune system.
If planning and cooking meals is stressful, turn to your Shelbyville, IN senior living community's dining program. They'll help you customize a meal plan based on your preferences and dietary needs.
Get Enough Sleep
Try to get seven to nine hours of sleep each night. Sleeping gives the body time to heal after a long day. It regulates mood and memory while strengthening your resilience against stress.
Develop a sleep routine by:
- Keeping the room cool
- Not using electronics before bed
- Going to bed at the same time each night
- Waking up at the same time each morning
- Improving your sleep environment
Instead of living alone, consider moving into a comfortable Shelbyville, IN senior living community. Their accommodations can help you get the rest you need.
Exercise Regularly
Try to exercise for 30 minutes a day. Regular exercise can:
- Improve your mood
- Ease arthritis pain
- Reduce blood pressure
- Combat chronic illness
Explore your senior living community's wellness program for fitness classes. For example, you can use tai chi and yoga to relax the mind and strengthen the body.
Consider mindfulness for seniors. Use meditation or breathing exercises to ease your stress and anxiety.
Build a Support System
Instead of applying these relaxation techniques alone, build a support system. Friends and family members can validate your feelings. They'll help you find a solution to the stressful situation you're facing.
Protect Your Senior Mental Health
To recap, what's the difference between stress vs anxiety? Anxiety is persistent, while stress usually fades once you remove an external trigger. However, both can affect your senior mental health.
Improve your mental and physical health by moving into a Shelbyville, IN senior living community like Walker Place Assisted Living. We offer compassionate care in a home-like setting.
Enjoy our comfortable living options, engaging activities, and coordination of care. Contact us now to schedule a tour.